Cyclists to share bus lanes with electric cars in Milton Keynes and Derby

Cities are among four that share £40m in DfT funding to promote uptake of cleaner vehicles Electric cars are to be allowed in bus lanes in Derby and Milton Keynes. Currently private cars and other types of vehicle are banned from such lanes while they are in operation (rules vary at local level), but cyclists are typically allowed to use them.

The news was revealed by the Department for Transport (DfT) as it announced (link is external) that four cities will share £40 million funding in an initiative designed to boost uptake of electric cars.

Those cities had entered a government competition called the Go Ultra Low City Scheme, with successful submissions including ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs) being prioritised in several London boroughs for parking and charging.

Other winners included Milton Keynes and Derby, and in both locations ULEVs will be allowed into bus lanes, something that is likely to cause concern among cycle campaigners. In Bristol, meanwhile, they will be permitted to use carpool lanes.

Allowing electric vehicles to use bus lanes is seen as a carrot that can entice motorists to switch to cleaner transport.

Zac Goldsmith, Tory candidate for the mayoral election in May, said in November he would […]